The homeschooling classroom is one of great organization. It also has a loving environment where no one is called stupid or left behind. This makes for an education unrivaled by any other, but it’s always improved by the search for new information. Read on to find some expert tips on homeschooling.
Do not be afraid to get help with a troublesome subject. You may find that math is not your strong suit when teaching your child, which means you should look on homeschool community forums for help, or call upon family or friends. It is best to find someone that can offer a better understanding of the material and help your child flourish.
If you plan to home school your child or children, always remember that books and the chosen curricula are just the basics. The best learning experience within the home is one that incorporates materials and concepts from outside the home and the curriculum. If you cannot find a single curricula that meets your needs, don’t be afraid to use multiple sources.
If you are homeschooling your child, always include reading in your daily curriculum. Depending on the age of the child, this should include reading aloud and allowing him or her a quiet time to read alone. With a younger child, begin with the alphabet, sight words and phonics, progressing to simple books. Older children will enjoy a variety of mediums, including newspapers and textbooks.
homeschoolingKnow that you do not have to work on every subject everyday. Most public schools do not even have children go to each class everyday; for instance, while your child may go to science on Monday and Wednesday, they go to math on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. This is the same kind of pattern you should use when homeschooling.
Sit down as a family each Sunday and discuss the upcoming week. This allows everyone to know what is expected of them during the week and how each person can help make the week more successful. Planning also gives everyone the opportunity to take part in field trips and projects.
Assign your children chores for the month. If you give out assigned chores for the entire month, they know what is expected of them for the next thirty days. If you use a daily or even a weekly chore sheet, they could easily become confused on what is their responsibility to take care of for that time.
A great aspect of teaching your kids at home is that you can customize your teaching to the way the child learns best. Hands-on kids can be given projects which meet their talents. This will end up helping your child to really unlock their full potential.
Can you afford to quit your job and homeschool? Have you created a budget to find out? Draft a budget of your current income and expenditures. Now, remove the income of the person who will be staying home. Also, include the cost of supplies, such as lesson materials, writing equipment, paper, etc. Can you afford it now?
You should keep well-organized records of the work that your child is doing and the progress that he is making. You will need to be accountable for this when you report to the state. Keeping good records will ensure that you comply with state standards in case there is a dispute with the state about your homeschool arrangement.
Set up a classroom area that is well supplied and and conducive to learning. You need to choose a specific area that has nothing to do with where your children play. Also, keep your child’s supplies in this area. Provide storage by means of a decorative box or crate if no storage is available.
Check your local library for resources. This is a free way to get material. Not only are traditional educational books available, you can also look around for other learning material. Find interesting books to share with your children. You will be amazed at how much the library has to offer!
If you are a homeschooling parent who also works at home, make sure you get enough down time. You will operate better as both a parent and a teacher that way. Trying to do too much in a day will leave you worn out and less able to focus on your roles.
Take the time to read! The more you study about homeschooling, the easier you will be able to teach your children. There are many how-to books that you can read that cover the different subjects of schooling that you will be teaching your children. They will help you with methods of explanation when your children have questions that you must answer.
Before or after homeschooling, you can get your children to help around the house. Giving your child a short list of household tasks is a great way to teach them responsibility. It is also an excellent way to teach them to pick up after themselves, and it could make less housework for you.
During homeschooling time, your child needs to see you as their teacher. Likewise, when you are not teaching the curriculum, you need to switch out of teacher mode. Parents who also teach their kids have many advantages over a traditional teacher, so long as they do not allow their affection for their child to disrupt educational priorities.
Create and maintain a strict schedule. While some flexibility should be built in to the schedule, it is imperative for homeschooling success that you always work according to plan. Staying on schedule helps you plan your time, keep up with lessons, and also have a separate family life to enjoy.
Now that you’ve read how others are improving their homeschooling experience, you can do the same in your own home. Take this knowledge and use it every day, creating lesson plans which wow your kids and engaging them in their education. Everything you do impacts them, so keep learning how to make them the best they can be.
New Study Reveals Literacy Initiative Significantly Improves At-Risk Preschoolers’ Reading Skills
University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication Finds Curriculum Benefits Teachers and Students
Mississippi preschoolers at risk for reading failure make significant gains in reading skills after using an educational curriculum based on the award-winning PBS series,
Between the Lions. Mississippi Public Broadcasting has provided lessons, books and DVDs of episodes to more than 1,500 economically disadvantaged children across the state.
Key Findings
“Our research clearly indicates that the Between the Lions Preschool Literacy Initiative curriculum positively impacts vocabulary development, teacher behavior and literacy environments,” said Deborah L. Linebarger, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication and Lead Investigator in the study. “We found substantial evidence in the Between the Lions: Mississippi Literacy Initiative study that children who may be at-risk for reading failure due to economic disadvantages are acquiring necessary early literacy skills.”
Participants in the research study were 319 children in preschools and child care centers living in economically disadvantaged communities in Mississippi. The study was conducted during 2007–2008.
“Among the more significant findings is the fact that on some literacy measures, children who were below the national average at pre-tests, improved to levels above the national average in post-tests,” said Marie Antoon, MPB executive director.
Children who participated in the Treatment Group learning with Between the Lions were better able to identify Lower Case Letters (81.9 percent in the Treatment Group vs. 61.3 percent in the Control Group) and Letter Sounds (75.2 percent in the Treatment Group vs. 50.5 percent in the Control Group). In addition, children in the Treatment Group obtained higher scores on the Get Ready to Read! Screener — a national measure used to build and identify early literacy skills—than the national Head Start average (9 – 12 points vs. 8.52 points).
“The most impressive thing about this study is it confirms that the Between the Lions Preschool Literacy Initiative is transforming daycare centers into child learning centers,” said Dr. Susan Zelman, Vice President of Education for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). “The study indicates that teachers using the curriculum learn new classroom management strategies and how to carry out activities that build language and other early reading skills. As a result, the children make enormous gains in key areas of literacy.”
Funding for this research was provided by CPB in partnership with PBS as part of the Ready to Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
“This initiative reflects public service media’s core mission of addressing the needs of the unserved and underserved audiences,” said Pat Harrison, president and CEO of CPB. “We congratulate Mississippi Public Broadcasting for its outstanding efforts and results in reaching children, caregivers and educators where they live, work, learn and play.”
The Barksdale Reading Institute supports early childhood education nationally and literacy initiatives in Mississippi.
“It is wonderful that Mississippi’s children are benefiting from the curriculum,” said Jim Barksdale, founder of the Barksdale Reading Institute and former chief executive officer of Netscape Communications Corp. “We applaud theBetween the Lions Preschool Literacy Initiative because it clearly improves early literacy skills that children will need to be ready for kindergarten.”
In 2007, MPB began a partnership with Mississippi Rotary District 6820 to provide the Between the Lions preschool literacy curriculum in child care centers adopted by Rotary Clubs in the district. Rotary District 6820 Literacy Chairman Jack Forbus explained that one of Rotary’s major international causes is literacy.
“It was hard for us to justify sending our support and volunteers outside of America when so many of the children right here are drastically behind in their literacy skills,” said Forbus. “We see each day how this initiative is helping young children learn to read. This project will have a positive impact on many future generations.”
Between The Lions Preschool Literacy Initiative
“PBS is proud to play a role in empowering all children for success in school and life,” said Paula Kerger, President and CEO, PBS. “Since 2000, Between the Lions has proved itself an effective resource for educators and parents in advancing literacy.”
The Between the Lions Preschool Literacy Initiative was created in 2005 to improve early childhood education and build a strong literacy foundation among preschoolers. Participating child care centers receive a comprehensive set of curriculum materials drawn from Between the Lions, along with professional development and mentoring. The production is a partnership between MPB, WGBH Boston, Sirius Thinking, Ltd., CPB, U.S. Department of Education, and Barksdale Reading Institute.
“When Between the Lions first came into production we envisioned the onscreen learning one day translating into valuable classroom lessons,” recalls Brigid Sullivan, Vice President of Children’s Programming at WGBH Boston. “It’s rewarding to see the continued impact of the series and its accompanying curriculum programs on children that might not otherwise have the chance to gain these reading skills.”
Mississippi Public Broadcasting has tracked hundreds of success stories with child care centers that have used theBetween the Lions Preschool Literacy Initiative.
“We are proud to be the home of the Between the Lions program and encouraged by the positive impact it is having and its opportunity for growth throughout our state and the nation,” said MPB Executive Director Marie Antoon.
To learn more about the Between the Lions Preschool Literacy Initiative and the Mississippi Literacy Study, please visit –www.betweenthelionsliteracy.org